Convertible pole and thill



(No Model.)

J. 1-1. THGMAS.

CONVERTIBLE POLE AND THILL.

No. 421,451.4 Patented Feb. 18,1890.

Tigri f a o//e Effe IWI/Quvy BL PETKRS, Phollllhughphsr. Washington. D. C.

UNrrnD STATES l Arnnr Orricn.

JOI-IN H. THOMAS, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

CONVERTIBLE POLE ANhD THILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Ia'tent No. 421,451, dated February 18, 1890.

Application filed October 23, 1889. Serial No. 327,926. (No model.)

k, To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN II. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Olark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Poles and Thills, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a convertible pole and thills especiallyT adapted for use with hayrakes; but is also applicable for any other purpose to which it may be applied.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and economical construction by means ot which the same parts ot' the vehicle may be readily chan ged to either a pole or thills, so

as to be used team.

My invention consists in the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying my invention shown in use as a pole. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same device in use as thills. Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the rear portion of the thill and pole pieces and a portion of the frame when connected to form a pole. Fig. et is a side view of the connecting-pieces to which the pole is attached. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the front end of the pole, showing the -manner of attaching the extension thereto.

In the said drawings, A A represent a frame such as is generally used in that class of vehicles for which this invention is particularly adapted. It consists in the longitudinal pieces a a a2 and thetransverse connectingpieces h b b2.

B B are the pole or thill pieces, each provided near the rear ends with suitable openings c c', adapted to receive fastening-bolts d d. These fastening-bolts d d are made of sufficient length to pass through the thillpieces B I3 and the connecting-pieces b Z2 b9'. The openings c c in the respective thill-pieces are so placed that when the rear ends of the thill-pieces stand in line with each other the openings in one thill-piece are slightly in advance of the openings in the other thill-piece. Each of the connecting-pieces h bf is provided with openings corresponding with the openwith either a single or double ings c c in the respective thill-pieces. Thel connecting-piece h is provided with double the number of open ings, having one openin to correspond with each of the openings in the respective thill-pieces, so that when said thillpieces are placed agailist the said connectingpiece with their rear ends in line the openings in the respective thill-pieces correspond each with an opening in the connecting-piece h. These openings c e c e in said connecting-piece h are each countersunk, the openings e e being countersunk on one side of the connecting-piece h and the openings e e being countersunk on the other side. The center connecting-piece h is formed on a taper, being smaller in Jfront than at the rear.

In converting this device from thills to a pole the fastening-bolts d d are removed, thus removing said thill-pieces. The saidfastening-bolts are then placed in the openings e e in the connecting-piece Z2', so as to extend in opposite directions therefrom, with their heads coun-tersunk on the opposite sides of the said connecting-piece. The thill-pieces are then moved transversely across the frame A A until they rest against the sides of the connecting-piece b in the saine position with reference to the front and rear of said frame as they occupy with reference to the connecting-pieces h h2. The thill-pieces are then secured in this posit-ion by means of the clampin g-bolts d d.

In order to form a pole of sufficient length when the thill-pieces Vare thus connected, I use an extension-piece D, provided with a socket f, adapted to tit over the ends of the thill-piec-es, and a clamping-bolt f', passing through said extension and between said thillpieces B and B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. By this construction it will be seen that the parts may be readily converted from thills to pole and pole to thills, as desired, without any additional parts other than the extensionpiece D. In either position the thill-pieces occupy the same relative positions with reference to the front and rear of the frame A A. The fastening-bolts d d when in use in connection with the pole, each has its head conntersunk and concealed by the thill-pieces, giving the appearance of a single bolt extending entirely through said thill-pieces and their connecting-piece. No extra bolts are used to ICO become lost or misplaced, and'the parts may be readily changed at 'any time with no other tool than an ordinary monkey-Wrench.

Having thus described my invention, l claim- 1. The combination, with the frame having side and center connecting-pieces, of thillpieces secured to each of said side connectingpieces by two or more independent connecting-bolts, the bolts in one of said thill-pieces being arranged slightly in advance of the bolts in the other, and openings in said center connecting-piece countersunk on opposite sides thereof, as described, and placed opposite to the bolts in said side connecting-pieces to receive said connecting-bolts, and thus attach the thill-pieces to said center connectingpiecesin line With each other, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, With the side and center yconnecting -pieces of the thill pieces adapted to be connected thereto, said thillpieces and side pieces being each provided with a set of openings, one set of openings ,being slightly in advance of the other set, tWo sets of openings in said center piece, one setbeing placed opposite the openings in each of the side pieces, each set of openings in said center piece being countersunk on opposite sides thereof, connecting-bolts adapted to pass through the respective openings and attach the said thill-pieces to the side or center pieces, as desired, and apole-piece to form an extension for said thill-pieces when used as a pole or tongue, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set iny hand this 21st da57 of October, A. D. 1889.

JOHN H, THOMAS. Witnesses:

AUGUSTUS N. SUMMERs, GEORGE A. BEARD. 

